Shoe counter



March 17, 1959 A. w. DAVIS SHOE COUNTER Filed oct. 1o, 1956 United Sttes arent SHOE 'COUNTER Andrew W. Davis, Madison, lll., assigner to 'Ehe Proctor Counter Co., St. Louis County, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application October 10, 1956, Seriai No. 615,139

1 Claim. (Cl. 3rd- 68) The present invention relates generally to the shoe art, and more particularly to a novel shoe counter having a flexible upper portion.

In brief, the present novel counter incorporates an upper edge portion in which are rows of spaced apertures, preferably extending substantially the full length of the counter, determining, in effect, lines of weakness along which the upper edge of the counter may be readily exed or bent. The present invention is particularly adapted to ber counters, or the like, which are normally quite stil even in the skived area. When the upper portion of a fiber counter, or the like, is provided with lines of spaced apertures, it is quite suitable for use in a ladys shoe. In addition, the apertures aord passage of adhesive to more rmly secure together the rear quarter, the counter and the lining.

Leather counters are inherently soft, but they are too expensive for quantity produced shoes manufactured for sale to the public at relatively low prices. The fiber counter, or counters of similar material, are inexpensive, but they are inherently stili, even in the skived areas along the upper edge. Numerous etforts have been made to render the upper edge of the fiber counter exible enough-to provide a comfortable heel area for womens shoes. The present invention is a practical solution to the long standing problem.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a shoe counter of fiber or similar material having a flexible upper portion which will be comfortable in the heel of a ladys shoe.

Another object is to provide a novel counter of ber or similar material including a exible upper edge in which apertures are formed in a predetermined pattern.

Another object is to provide a novel counter of fiber or similar material having a exible upper edge portion incorporating a plurality of parallel lines of spaced apertures which follow the upper edge of the counter and which render the apertured area llexible so that a comfortable t obtains in the heel of a shoe in which the counter is placed.

Another object is to provide a novel counter of fiber or similar material which is inexpensive, yet which iucorporates exibility in the upper portion thereof.

Another object is to provide a novel flexible counter incorporating apertures in the upper area affording passage therethrough of adhesive.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a counter blank which includes the teachings of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragment of the upper portion of the counter blank shown in Figure l illustrating one form of aperture which may be employed in carrying out the present invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged tranvserse cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

2,877,571 atented Mar. 17, 1959 ICC Figure 4 is an isometric view of a formed fiber counter incorporating the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view through the heel of a shoe showing the passage of adhesive, the adhesive being exaggerated as to thickness for clarity of illustration.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, 10 indicates generally a ber shoe counter blank having an upper edge 12 and a lower edge 14. As is clear from Figure 3, the -upper edge portion 16 is skived or feathered in the usual manner of making counters. Apertures 18 are formed in the skived portion 16, being presently illustrated as four rows of substantially equal spaced lines of apertures 18. stood that the aperture 18 is elongated as shown in the drawings but may take any desired configuration and that it may be formed by removal of material, as illustrated, or by piercing action which compresses the material around the edges of the aperture.

A formed generally U-shaped counter 20 is shown in Figure 4. The material adjacent the lower edge 14 is crimped at 22, as is well known in the art. The upper skivecl portion 16 incorporating the apertures 18 is quite flexible and pliable so that when the counter 20 is incorpated in a ladys shoe the heel will be comfortable on the wearer.

In Figure 5, the counter 10 is shown between an outer rear quarter 24 and a lining 26 of the rear portion 28 of a shoe. Adhesive 30 aplied to bot-h sides of the counter It) also passes through the apertures 18, thereby more firmly securing the three parts together.

The present invention is illustrated as applied to a ber counter. However, it is to be understood that counters of other stiff material may incorporate the present invention.

It is manifest that there has been provided a novel shoe counter which fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

1t is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing have been given only by way of illustration and example. It is further to be understood that changes in the form of the elements, rearrangement of parts, or the substitution of equivalent elements, all of which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are considered within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claim which follows.

What is claimed is:

A shoe counter comprising a relatively sti main body having a generally U-shaped configuration and inturned bottom edges, and a relatively flexible upper portion, said upper portion having a plurality of longitudinal rows of spaced elongated apertures disposed in end to end relationship, said longitudinal rows being spaced from each other and said apertures providing weakened areas in said upper portion and rendering it flexible.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 516,832 Packard u- Mar. 20, 1894 1,653,075 Weichett et al Dec. 20, 1927 1,742,895 Brittain Jan. 7, 1930 2,002,093 Engel May 21, 1935 2,067,987 Schwarz 1 Jan. 19, 1937 2,084,868 Quinn June 22, 1937 2,191,906 Daniels Feb. 27, 1940 2,713,216 Ponce July 19, 1955 2,716,249 Holloway Aug. 30, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 829,513 France Apr. 5, 1938 It is to be under- 

